Torpedo



Nov. zo, 1923, y 1,474,724

` J. w. MccoNNl-:LL

TORPEDO Original Filed Dec. l2. 1921 Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

" W 1,474,'Z2t

E TATEUEENT FFHCE.

JAMES W. MCCONNELL, GF WASHNGTON. DSTBICT OECOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOVERNMENT GF THE UNITED STATES.

TORPEDO.

Application filed-December 12, 1921, Serial No. 521,910. Renewed July 21, 1923.

To @KZ whom 't may concor/'i Be it l iwn that l. Jamas li'. MCCON- NELL, a cit/ien of tie United States, residing Washington District of Columbia, have invented new and useful improvements in Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in torpedoes and more particularly to subniarine torpedoes now in general use in the Navy.

Before stating the objects of the invention it is to be remarked that prior to putting torpedoes in general ser-vice they are subjected to several tests te determine their efficiency of operation, accuracy, etc. and it is often impractical to run the torpedo its full run, that is, perhaps 18.000 yards due to the limited area of the testing course. in these tests it is, therefore, often desirable to limit the run of the torpedo to the length of the course, that is, eight thousand or ten thousand vards and at the end of the run recover the torpedo which, if satisfactory. is put into service. It frequently happens7 however7 that at the end of the run the buoyancy of the torpedo is such as to cause it to sink instead of to come of fuel and water into the torpedo to limit the run. as this causes a variation in the weight i the torpedo and its satisfactory working conditions under a full load can" not be accurately determined.

lt is. thereil'n'eI7 one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a tor pedo with means for discharging the other, wise unused fuel and water from the torpedo system to reduce the weight of the torpedo and its contents at the end of a predetermined'shortened run vfor the purpose of increasing the otherwise resultant buoyancy and thereby prevent the torpedo from sinking.

A further object is to provide a torpedo of the above general character with a sinrple and practical means for discharging the unused fuel and water which will be reliable and efficient in use and operation and prevent the inward How of sea water into the torpedo at the end of its run.

With these objects in mind attention is directed to the accompanying sheet of drawing showing such parts of the torpedo and the attachment therefor for accomplishing' the above objects as will enable one skilled in the art to fully understand the Same.

In these dra-Wings,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a part of the torpedo taken through the attachment.

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view of part of the valve mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 5 denotes the outer shell ofthe torpedo which is provided with openings G and 7 adapted to receive closing means engaging threads 8 and carrying cylindrical strain@ ers fitting the cavities 9. One of these cavities has inlet ports 10 through which water is fed from the water compartment. Normally this water passes through the conv partment 9 in the strainer not shown and out through the port ll to the combustion flask. On the opposite side fuel from the fuel tank is fed into the port 12 through Compartment 9 and strainer' therein thence out through port A125 to the combustion liasl: where it is ignitedfor the generation of heat. These parts are of well-'known con striiietion and require no detailed descrip tion.A

The invention resides more particularly in applying at theI ends of the chambers 9 outlet ports lland i5 connected by pipes 16 and Yli' respectively with :i valve warrving member 17S shown more in detail in Figure 2. This valve carrying member is provided with two conical check valves 20 normally held in closed vposition by means of .springs 2l reacting against a water orifice cap 22j which cap is provided wirh a metered outlet opening Q-l adapted to be closed vby a plug screw 24; .counter-sunk in the water orifice cup on alfull length run. The sizeV of the opening 23 regulates the wast-age and consequently the length of the run, for obviously if the supply of fuel and water are exhausted which supply the mo` tive means for the turbines, the torpedo will stop. These parts are accessible through suitable openings in the torpedo shell. These plug screws 24 are removed whereby leakage of a predetermined amount of Water and fuel may take place through the pipes 16 and 17 and thence past the check valves 20. When a full or maximum run is desired the plugs are, of course, positioned to prevent leakage at this point.

The orifices in the valve casing are retarded as desired' whereby wastage, discharge of fuel and water may be regulated to bring the end of a full power torpedo run at a predetermined time. The strainers positioned in the chambers 9 prevent foreign matter from passing to the retarded openings and the check valves prevent the return flow of sea water into the torpedo system at the end of the run.

It is believed that the operation and use of this device will be clear to those familiar with the subject. In said runs the screw plugs 9A- are removedand a predetermined portion of the fuel and .vater will pass out past the check valves 2O whereby at the end of a predetermined run the fuel and water will become entirely exhausted and the torpedowill stop and come to the surface due to its positive buoyancy. Then the war shot is desired the plugs 24: are securely seated thus preventing the predetermined wastage of fuel and water and the torpedo will make its maximum run.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical attachment for torpedoes, particularly adapted to insure the complete expulsion of water and fuel from the torpedo system and obtain the desired positive buoyancy whereby the torpedo will float at the end of the shortened run instead of sinking.

Vthout further analysis,y the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that othersY can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features, that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should and. are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

That I claim is l. In combination with a torpedo provided with passages for fuel and water to the combustion flask, by-passes leading therefrom and communicating' with openings in the exterior of the torpedo whereby the contents of the fuel and water system will be exhausted at the end of a predetermined shortened run.

2. In combination with a torpedo provided with passages for fuel and water to the combustion fiask, by-passes leading therefrom and communicating with the exterior of tl'ie'torpedo whereby the contents of the fuel, and water system will' be exhausted, said by-passes being provided with stop valves to prevent the inflow of the water at the end of the run.

3. In combination with a torpedo provided with passages for fuel and water to the combustion Hash, by-passes leadingtherefrom and communicating with the exterior of the torpedo where-by the contents of the fuel and water system may be exhausted as desired, said by-passes being provided with valves to prevent the inflow of the water at one end and means for closing said valves entirely as and when desired.

4C. In combination with a torpedo, chambers through which the fuel and water are adapted to pass to the combustion flask, bypasses from said chambers communicating with the exterior of the torpedo and means for preventing` the inflow of water from the sea to said bly-passes.

5. fn combination. with a torpedo, chambers through which the fuel and water are adapted to pass to the combustion Hash, bypasses from said chambers communicating with the exterior' of the torpedo, means for preventing` the inflow of water from the sea to said by-passes, said means including spring actuated check valves provided with openings through which. the water and fuel may pass and means for closing` said openings.

G. fn combination with a torpedo provided with passages for fuel and water to the combustion flask, by-passes leading therefrom and communicating with openings in the exterior of the torpedo whereby the contents of the fuel and water system will be exhausted at the end of a. predetermined shortened run, said openings being metered whereby rate of wastage may be controlled for varying length of shortened runs.

Signed at Alexandria, V a., this seventh day of November, 1921.

JANLES W. MCCONN ELL. 

